Learn how merchant cash advances work, what kind of businesses use them and the pros and cons of this revenue-based funding solution.
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Apply in 10 minutes for a cash advance tailored to how your business operates.
- From £10k to £20m
- One fixed fee, agreed before you accept
- Repaid as a share of your sales
- No personal guarantees
- Funds in as little as 24 hours
What is a merchant cash advance?
A merchant cash advance (MCA), also known as a business cash advance, is business funding where you receive capital upfront and repay it as a share of your future sales. It's different from a credit card cash advance and from a bank loan.
At Wayflyer you pay one fixed fee, agreed before you accept, and your repayments are smaller in slower weeks and larger in stronger ones. There is no personal guarantee, and our team walks you through the terms before you commit.
When a cash advance is a good fit
A cash advance is built for businesses whose sales rise and fall. Because repayments follow your sales, payments are smaller in quieter weeks and the advance clears faster in busy ones.
Seasonal businesses
Repayments follow your sales, so you are not locked into a fixed payment in your quietest months and pay more when busy.
Stocking up before a peak
Fund inventory ahead of Black Friday, Prime Day or your busiest quarter, then repay as the sales come in, not before.
Strong sales, short history
Funding is based on your business performance, so strong recent sales can count for more than how long you have traded.
Time-sensitive opportunities
When a supplier deal or campaign window won't wait for a bank's timeline, funds can reach you in as little as 24 hours.
How a merchant cash advance works
Apply in minutes. Understand your terms before you accept.
- Submit an application. Share a few details about your business. It takes under 10 minutes and won't affect your credit score.
- Get a tailored offer. We review your business performance and come back with options that fit. Our team explains your fee, how repayments work and the total you'll repay.
- Receive your funds. Once you accept, funds can reach your bank account in as little as 24 hours.
How much does a merchant cash advance cost?
A cash advance can cost more than a bank loan. In return you get speed, no personal guarantee, and repayments that move with your sales.
How repayments work
- One fixed fee, agreed before you accept.
- Total repayment = advance + fixed fee. It does not increase if repayment takes longer.
- No additional fee for repaying early, and the total you owe stays the same.
- You repay a % of your sales, so payments are smaller in slower weeks.
- How long repayment takes can vary with your sales; the typical window is 3 to 9 months.
Play with the numbers
Illustrative only, not a quote- Fixed fee (6%)
- £6,000
- Total to repay
- £106,000
- Weekly repayment (10%)
- £2,771
- Estimated window
- ~9 months
Illustrative examples
| Illustrative examples | Example A | Example B | Example C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance | £50,000 | £100,000 | £250,000 |
| Fixed fee | £3,000 | £6,000 | £15,000 |
| Total to repay | £53,000 | £106,000 | £265,000 |
Repayment typically takes 3 to 9 months, so the effective annual cost depends on how quickly you repay. Examples are illustrative only and are not a quote. Your fee depends on your business.
Merchant cash advance vs term loan vs line of credit
Which type of funding fits your business? There is no single best type of funding. It depends on how your cash flow works.
Wayflyer cash advance | Daily-debit MCA | Term loan | Line of credit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repayment | Share of sales, flexes with sales | Fixed daily or weekly debit | Fixed schedule | Pay as you draw |
| Cost structure | Single fixed fee | Factor rate | Interest and fees | Interest on drawn amount |
| Personal guarantee | None | Often required | Often required | Often required |
| Speed | As little as 24 hours | 1 to 3 days | Days to weeks | Days to weeks |
| Best for | Seasonal, sales-led businesses | Short bridge needs | Planned, time-boxed spend | Ongoing, uneven cash needs |
Typical features across the market; individual providers differ.
Wayflyer cash advance eligibility
To apply, your business needs to meet four criteria:
- 12+ months in business
- £10,000+ monthly sales
- Based in the US, UK or Australia
- Operate in supported industry
Hit your growth goals like these businesses
"Wayflyer has been that very flexible financing partner that's really enabled us to avoid the need to go and raise capital."
"Banks look at your history and want to see proven results whereas Wayflyer can underwrite some of your future growth and revenue in order to finance your operations."
Merchant cash advance FAQs
A merchant cash advance (MCA) is business funding where you receive capital upfront and repay it as a share of your future sales, rather than a fixed monthly amount. It is also known as a business cash advance, and it is different from a credit card cash advance. With Wayflyer you pay one fixed fee, agreed before you accept.
Not in the traditional sense. A loan is usually repaid in fixed payments with interest, whereas a Wayflyer cash advance is repaid as a share of your sales and costs one fixed fee instead of interest. Repayments rise and fall with your revenue, and the total you owe is agreed before you accept.
You apply online in under 10 minutes and connect your bank account so we can review your business performance. Your offer shows your fixed fee and total repayment upfront. Once you accept, funds can reach your bank account in as little as 24 hours, and you repay a share of your sales. A dedicated account manager is there if you have questions.
You pay one fixed fee, agreed before you accept, with no compounding interest, no late fees and no hidden charges. Your total repayment is the advance plus that fee, and it stays the same from day one. See the illustrative examples on this page, or check your offer for your exact figures.
Compare the total you will repay first. Providers quote cost in different ways, such as a factor rate, a percentage fee or a fixed fee, so those figures are hard to line up side by side. The total repayment is the one number that is comparable across every offer. Then check how long repayment is expected to take, because the effective annual cost depends on how quickly the advance is repaid.
Ask six things: What is the total I will repay? Is the fee fixed, or can it change if repayment takes longer? How are repayments taken, and do they change with my sales? Is a personal guarantee required? Are there extra fees, including for repaying early? Will someone explain the terms before I sign? Our team walks you through each of these before you accept.
A factor rate is a multiplier applied once to the advance, for example 1.3. Interest builds over time as an annual rate. Because a factor rate is a fixed cost, the effective annual rate depends on how quickly you repay. Ask any provider for the total repayment and the repayment window so you can compare like for like.
Wayflyer funds eCommerce businesses from £10,000 up to £20 million, and businesses in other eligible industries up to £1 million. The amount we offer depends on your sales data and what we believe you can comfortably repay. You can use the funds for anything that helps your business grow, such as inventory, marketing, payroll or equipment, with no spend restrictions.
You need at least 12 months of trading history, £10,000 or more in monthly revenue, and operations in the US, UK or Australia in a supported industry such as ecommerce, retail, healthcare or SaaS. Connect your bank account and we review your business performance to see what we can offer.
Wayflyer bases funding on your business performance, such as your sales, and applying uses a soft credit check that won't affect your score. Eligibility depends on meeting our criteria on trading history, monthly revenue and location.
No. Wayflyer funding is unsecured, with no personal guarantee, no collateral and no equity given up. We fund the business, not the person behind it, so your personal assets stay protected.
No. We run a soft credit check during review, so applying won't affect your score. Your offer shows your fee and total repayment before you decide.
With a Wayflyer cash advance you repay a percentage of your revenue, so payments are smaller in slower periods and larger in stronger ones. You can set them to bi-weekly or monthly in your dashboard, and how long repayment takes can vary with your sales. If you run into difficulty, we work with you on a plan.
Yes. There are no early repayment penalties and no additional fee, and the total you owe stays the same. You can pay off early at any time from your dashboard.
A cash advance is repaid as a share of your sales, so payments flex. A term loan is repaid on a fixed schedule, which suits planned spending you can forecast. A line of credit lets you draw as needed. We offer a cash advance, term loan and rolling financing, and our team can help you pick.
Funds can reach your bank account in as little as 24 hours after you accept your offer. To apply, connect your bank account so we can review your business performance. For larger amounts we may also ask for financial accounts. There is no lengthy paperwork.
Wayflyer is backed by institutional partners including J.P. Morgan, with billions of dollars available to deploy to growing businesses.